Higher learning as a business: what are library employees worth?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider library faculty and staff activities within an institution of higher learning in light of the recent ACRL report Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report.

Design/methodology/approach

Using some of the student assessment measures listed in the ACRL report, the paper discusses possible ways to quantify library duties.

Findings

The paper finds that it is invigorating to ponder what libraries do, within a bigger picture.

Research limitations/implications

Avenues for possible research, with and without human subjects, include: library employees' effects on enrollment, retention, and graduation; using SCOPUS or other citation database, to evaluate libraries' effects on faculty research.

Practical implications

It is important to expand assessment of libraries beyond the usual “internal” statistics such as circulation, to include wider institutional measures.

Originality/value

The paper provides a commentary on September 2010 ACRL report.

Citation

Steele, K. (2010), "Higher learning as a business: what are library employees worth?", The Bottom Line, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 202-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/08880451011104018